Roughly 99 times out of 100, a garage door works like a charm — it’s safe,
Most of the time, our garage doors work so beautifully that we take them for granted. They open like a charm. It’s easy to forget how much of our convenience and security depends on keeping them in good repair. And while garage door repair emergencies will happen, keep in mind that most door issues are a long time in the making. You should be able to catch potential problems before they become garage door repair emergencies. More importantly, there are easy DIY maintenance repairs you can do on your garage door that will substantially lower your need for repair overtime.
Here are 4 easy things you can do to keep your garage door functioning beautifully and minimizing repair — while saving money in the process.
You Back into the Garage Door
Let’s face it. You’re not always your best first thing in the morning — especially at 6 a.m. You might back into the door — especially if the door hasn’t risen the entire way or gets stuck in mid position. You might also sideswipe the track or side of the garage. It happens. The fix is usually fairly minimal. If the cost ends up being more than $100 or so, you might be able to get it covered under your auto or home insurance policy.
Garage Door Closes on Your Car
This mishap usually isn’t your fault — but the result of a faulty garage door. Fortunately, your garage door should be able to take the brunt of it without damaging your car. You might end up damaging the track if the garage door springs are tight enough. The door should reverse itself because your car is obstructing the photo eye. Check the door — and your car — for damage and then call a garage door repair professional if necessary.
Your Garage Door Doesn’t Completely Shut
If your garage door doesn’t completely shut — or suddenly reverses itself just before closing — you probably have an obstruction of your photo eye — a safety sensor designed to detect if something is in the way as the door closes. Check to see if the sensors are out of alignment or dirty. Reposition or clean the sensors if necessary.
It’s also possible your close limit switch needs adjustment. This is a safety switch that controls the up and down motion of your door. You should call a professional to have it adjusted.
Your Garage Door Comes Off Track
This happens from time to time. The door comes off its tracks and gets stuck. It’s tempting to just to muscle rig it — force it open — especially if you’re late for work. The problem is you can easily cause extensive damage to both the door and the track — what’s a fairly easy fix suddenly becomes a several hundred dollar repair.
You may be able to fix it yourself — or you might need to call a professional. But if you have to be somewhere fast, call an Uber. It’s a lot cheaper than seriously damaging your garage door!